Belconnen’s Healthy Waterways projects start

September 24, 2018

Construction has started on three new ACT Healthy Waterway infrastructure projects in Belconnen and an extra project has been announced for Tuggeranong, ACT Senator Zed Seselja and ACT Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman said today.

Minister Gentleman said the three Belconnen projects took the total number of projects completed or underway to 15 since construction began in 2017.

“The projects include two wetlands along Ginninderra Creek, one each in Melba and Evatt, and the restoration of a creek in Florey. They will all help to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants flowing into Ginninderra Creek as well as provide more lovely spaces for Canberrans to enjoy,” Minister Gentleman said.

“I’m also pleased to announce we have added an extra infrastructure project from savings made across the other sites. Another rain garden will be constructed in Gowrie, in the Tuggeranong Catchment.

“All 20 ACT Healthy Waterway infrastructure projects will be completed by June 2019.”

Senator Seselja said the $76 million Australian Government investment in improving water quality in the ACT benefited not only the Territory but the catchments downstream.

“ACT Healthy Waterways represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to significantly improve water quality in the ACT’s lakes and waterways —and downstream in the Molonglo and Murrumbidgee Rivers and the Murray–Darling Basin,” Senator Seselja said.

“I also welcome the extra project for Tuggeranong made possible by project savings to date.

“ACT Healthy Waterways has the biggest footprint of any water quality infrastructure project ever undertaken in the ACT.

“Some of the individual projects are world-leaders in terms of size and scope. The rain garden nearing completion beside Upper Stranger Pond in Tuggeranong will be the largest rain garden in the southern hemisphere.

“Apart from the infrastructure projects, Healthy Waterways is funding two pioneering research projects into water quality and the H2OK community education program to stop rubbish and organic matter entering the stormwater system, ‘Only rain down the stormwater drain’.